The London and Rochester Barge Company 1858

 

The London and Rochester Barge Co. was a British barge company that operated on the River Medway from 1858 to 1984. The company was founded by George William Gill, a ship surveyor, and it was based in Chatham, Kent.

Opens in a new windowen.wikipedia.org

London and Rochester Barge Co. barges on the River Medway

The company's fleet consisted of approximately 25 sailing barges and 22 lighters. The barges were used to transport a variety of cargo, including coal, grain, and timber. The lighters were used to transfer cargo between the barges and the shore.

The company was a major employer in Rochester and the surrounding area. At its peak, it employed over 200 people. The company's barges were a familiar sight on the River Medway for many years.

The company was acquired by Hay's Wharf in 1964, and it was finally closed in 1984 due to a decline in the barge industry.

Here are some additional details about the London and Rochester Barge Co.:

• The company's fleet was the largest of any barge company on the River Medway.
• The company's barges were built in Chatham and Rochester.
• The company's barges were used to transport cargo throughout the Medway Estuary.
• The company's barges were a popular tourist attraction.